The Best Stargazing Destinations for Star Wars Day

As Obi-Wan Kenobi exclaims: “Strike me down, and I will become more powerful than you could possibly imagine”. The same can be said for stargazing sights across the planet, where sparkling constellations and asterisms burn brightly beyond their years. With rising light pollution levels, finding a clear stargazing spot is becoming increasingly challenging, but the scientific body DarkSky works to protect and promote destinations that continue to offer undisturbed views. There are approximately 200 International Dark Sky Places (IDSP) around the world, spanning more than 160,000 square kilometres, 22 countries and six continents. Our editors have selected some sparkling Dark Sky destinations for a May the Fourth to remember.

Brecon Beacons National Park

Wales, UK

Over in the heart of Wales is Bannau Brycheiniog National Park (Brecon Beacons). This rural arcadia, where sheep outnumber humans, offers complete seclusion from life’s chaos. As part of their pledge to make all lighting 100 per cent dark-sky-friendly, the park authorities are replacing surrounding lightbulbs with energy-efficient alternatives. The national park is a patchwork quilt of heather-covered hillsides, jagged peaks and large swathes of open water, making it the perfect spot for a brisk hike or starry-night photoshoot.

NIGHTFALL IN THE BRECON BEACONS, WALES

Aotea Great Barrier Island

Auckland, New Zealand

The secluded island of Aotea (translated as “white cloud” from Māori) is the sixth largest island of New Zealand and one of the nation’s nine Dark Sky Sanctuaries. Aotea lies approximately 100km northeast of Auckland in the Hauraki Gulf and was previously exploited for its abundance of minerals and vegetation. The 1,000 inhabitants that remain on the island possess a deep respect for the local environment, working tirelessly to manage astro-tourism and maintain protection from Auckland Council.

Flagstaff

Arizona, US

The first classified International Dark Sky City was Flagstaff, Arizona in 2001. The city was commended for its outdoor lighting policy and building upgrades to improve energy efficiency and negate the effects of light pollution. The metropolis in the foothills of Mount Elden is an astrological haven for multiple reasons: Pluto – or Planet X – was first discovered here in 1930 and an ancient meteor crater can be found on the outskirts of the city. Flagstaff also played an integral part in previous Apollo Moon missions, with astronauts travelling to the city to study astral maps in the local observatory.

GOLDEN HOUR NEAR FLAGSTAFF, ARIZONA

!Ae!Hai Kalahari Heritage Park

South Africa

In South Africa, the !Ae!Hai Kalahari Heritage Park is another remote paradise with little pollution and twinkling night skies. The park became a restored indigenous region in 2002 as part of a government initiative to preserve indigenous culture and communities. Here, the ‡Khomani San and Mier people offered support and opportunities to achieve a sustainable livelihood. The park is one of the more recent Dark Sky classifications, having achieved its status in 2019.

Where to Stay

While camping under the stars is a popular choice, we recommend booking a stay in a luxury property close to one of these beautiful sights to continue searching for constellations from your room. Ellenborough Park is an elegant 15th-century countryside estate surrounded by acres of rolling gardens on the English-Welsh border, while Arizona Biltmore A Waldorf Astoria Resort in Phoenix is a scenic two-hour drive from Flagstaff, where you can watch the desert morph into craggy mountains.

Of course, you can explore all of these hotels and more on ASMALLWORLD Collection.